Watch CBS News

Michigan Police Dog To Be Honored Alongside Fallen Officers

MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) - A Midland-based organization that pays respects to fallen police officers is set to honor a police dog that died last week.

The police dog named Zando worked with the Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Department in Jackson County for 10 years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and was put down Oct. 27.

Project Blue Light of Midland will honor the police dog at an annual ceremony Dec. 6, the Jackson Citizen Patriot  reports. The ceremony includes individual memorials, and decorations are given to the families of fallen officers.

Mary Fisher, who founded the Midland branch of the project in 2005, said Zando is a "hero" and deserves to be honored alongside 31 officers from the Midland area.

"We wanted to get this police dog honored because of what he does," Fisher said.

Zando helped catch roughly 100 suspects and performed demonstrations for students, youth groups and churches. His handler, Christopher Jacobson, said Zando's family got to say their goodbyes at an animal clinic before he was put down.

Fisher hasn't reached out to Jacobson about honoring Zando, but said the Midland group will do so.

"He deserves that," she said.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.